fast and curious

September 2013

Ever wanted to learn yoga without having to squeeze classes into your schedule or paying studio prices? Enter Ekhart Yoga, Curious Teacher of the Week and one of the web’s leading yoga sources for yogis who want to practice anywhere, at any time of day.

Ekhart Yoga is based in the Netherlands, with loyal followers from all over the world, including the US and UK, Germany, and Holland. The company’s yoga videos have been viewed 30 million times. That’s a lot of sun salutations!

We chose Ekhart Yoga as Teacher of the Week because we love how the lessons make yoga accessible to people who otherwise might not be able to practice: busy moms, business travelers, or those who live in remote areas. Not to mention those of us who like to get our om on in our PJs.

We're also excited that September is National Yoga Month, and to celebrate, Ekhart Yoga is offering a week of free yoga videos to anyone who signs up. Sign up is free - visit EkhartYoga.com for more details.

Now, without further ado, meet the team behind Ekhart Yoga!

Curious: Hello! Tell us about your business. What’s Ekhart Yoga and how did you get started?Ekhart Yoga: Ekhart Yoga is all about spreading yoga across the world. We started by making videos of Esther in 2008 and by 2012, we had over 20 million views. A year ago, we [co-founders Esther Ekhart, Bas Paul, and Ruud Voerman] launched EkhartYoga.com, a yoga video membership site, and Esther’s online yoga “home”. We feature videos by Esther, along with a dozen other international yoga teachers. We joined Curious.com in June, where we also connect with students from all over the world.

The Curious team thrives on staying active, and many of us practice yoga. As a busy start- up, we understand how hard it is to make it to class, so we love the concept of learning yoga online. Tell us, what made you decide to put your yoga classes online?EY: People don’t always realize that yoga can be accessible and convenient if it’s presented in the right way. If you have a laptop, an internet connection and a great online lesson, you can practice yoga on your living room floor at your convenience. When we started in 2008, we felt online yoga was an underserved area. We wanted to bring Esther’s expertise to people everywhere, not just people who lived near us.

Job well done. How did Esther get started with teaching yoga?EY: Esther started practicing yoga at a very young age, and did her first teacher training at age 18. Her mom was a yoga teacher as well. When we moved to Ireland in 2000, we built our own yoga studio in the middle of nowhere. People drove from all over to attend her classes because they loved her teaching style - it was amazing. Esther studies yoga every day and night, so her knowledge runs deep.

What is some of the best advice you’ve received about working in the internet video business?EY: Well, we didn’t know anything about cameras or computers when we started filming Esther for EkhartYoga.com. A friend advised [Bas] to get a great mic, so we bought one off eBay. The high quality audio really helped us to stand out. We’ve learned so much about web development, lesson building and video production since we started.

To wrap up, we’d like to know: what are you curious about?EY: We are curious about how online yoga will evolve. Not only for our website and sites like Curious.com, but also for yoga practitioners all over the world. Will online yoga become a widely accepted addition to traditional practice?

Oh Baby! was born after CEO and co-owner Clare suffered from postpartum depression, and joined a new mom’s group that helped nurture her back to recovery. She was inspired to create Oh Baby! Fitness, which offers pre and postnatal group fitness classes, to give women a forum to move together, build community, and discuss what it’s like to be a mom.

We love Oh Baby! because this team is dedicated to empowering women during this exciting, yet often challenging time in their lives. What could be better? Without further ado, meet the ladies behind Oh Baby! Fitness.

Curious: Hello! Tell us a little more about Oh Baby! Fitness.Oh Baby! Fitness: Oh Baby! offers the widest variety of pre and postnatal fitness classes in the country. During the prenatal period, expectant moms take our classes so they can meet other women having similar experiences, and feel good during their pregnancies. In our post-natal classes, we offer mom and baby classes, where women and kids get to know each other and become friends. Our mission is to support women during and after their pregnancies, and get women exercising together and discussing the real deal about becoming a new mom.

That sounds great - and unique. What was the inspiration behind Oh Baby?OBF: Our founder and co-owner, Clare, founded Oh Baby! after suffering from postpartum depression and joining a new mom support group. The moms in her group called her and took her for a walk every day. Clare says the group saved her life, and made her realize two things: One, new moms need each other. Two, if women can be working out together, that’s a great way to build a network of friends. Oh Baby! was born soon after!

It sounds like you have quite a flourishing community in Atlanta. Why did you decide to teach on Curious?OBF: There’s so much misinformation about pregnancy and exercise - we think it’s our responsibility to put correct, safe and helpful information out there.

Absolutely. To wrap up, we’d like to know: Who is a teacher who influenced you and how did he/she do so?OBF: Our clients have been our best teachers! Each woman’s experience with pregnancy and as a new mom is different. By sharing their experiences with us and with each other in our classes, they have helped us learn so much about the importance of gaining confidence during motherhood and building community. Group exercise provides a fantastic way to make yourself feel better and at the same time, bond with others. The women we work with prove that to us every day.

Ever wondered how you can easily save money, while being creative and having fun? Our Curious Teacher of the Week, Sarah Mock of How I Pinch a Penny, can show you how.

A homesteading blogger and home/garden DIY expert, Sarah hails from Pennsylvania where she lives with her three children and husband. She's a pro at cooking (and canning) delicious food, cleaning, organizing, gardening and crafting -- all on a budget.

We chose Sarah as Teacher of the Week because we think it’s awesome that her projects save money and the earth. Her lessons are the epitome of resourceful.

C: Can you tell us a little more about How I Pinch a Penny?SM: How I Pinch a Penny is a lifestyle blog. It offers a peek into how my family saves money, finds discounts, and discovers saving techniques in the kitchen and garden. I started the blog in 2009, when I was pregnant and my family’s financial bottom fell out. I began writing about how I was saving money and the blog started growing organically, and has really progressed.

C: At Curious, we love your lessons because they’re very well-taught (our team's favorite: How to Make and Can Peach Jam). How did you get started with teaching?SM: Well, I’ve been teaching my whole life. When I was 13, I started taking cake decorating classes and taught my sisters and mom what I’d learned. Then, after college, I became a TA and a fellow. My teaching background helps me on Curious, because it allows me to communicate what’s in my head and get my ideas across to students. Teaching just comes naturally to me.

C: Why is teaching important to you?SM: It’s important to pass on what you know for the greater good - the whole “give a man a fish” metaphor.

C: Definitely. At the office, we sometimes discuss the best teachers we’ve had over the years. Who is the teacher who’s had the most impact on you?SM: Chef Karl Guggenmos, the University Dean of Culinary Education at Johnson & Wales University. At the time we met, he was my professor at Johnson & Wales. He inspired me because he took an interest in the whole student - not just the grade or technique they were studying, but who they were as a person, what they wanted to achieve, and how they processed life.